Kinsler, Red Sox beat Braves 8-2 in matchup of division leaders

The Red Sox have won 23 of their last 27 games against National League teams.

Boston's Ian Kinsler reacts after driving in two runs with a base hit in the eighth inning.
–AP Photo/John Bazemore

By

CHARLES ODUM

AP,

September 3, 2018

ATLANTA (AP) — Ian Kinsler drove in three runs and the Boston Red Sox continued their interleague success, beating the Atlanta Braves 8-2 Monday in a matchup of division leaders.

The Red Sox have won 23 of their last 27 games against National League teams. Boston has the best record in the majors and is atop the AL East.

Kinsler hit a two-out, two-run single in the eighth after a throwing error by first baseman Freddie Freeman prolonged the inning, making it 5-2. Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run single as Boston scored three times in the ninth off Bryse Wilson.

Boston scored three runs in the fifth off Braves rookie Touki Toussaint, making only his second start in the majors.

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The NL East-leading Braves scored only one run after loading the bases in the first, fourth and seventh innings. Kurt Suzuki’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly added a run in the seventh.

Toussaint (1-1) held Boston without a hit and struck out six strikeouts through four innings. Consecutive doubles by Eduardo Nunez, Kinsler and Christian Vazquez off the rookie in the fifth gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. Mookie Betts added an RBI single with two outs to finish Toussaint.

Boston right-hander Nate Eovaldi issued three walks in the first. His previous season high for a game was two. The Braves left the bases loaded when Suzuki grounded out.

Brandon Workman (3-0) recorded two outs after replacing Eovaldi in the fourth. Eovaldi issued four walks but did not allow a run in 3 1/3 innings.

Ozzie Albies led off the sixth with his 22nd homer against Joe Kelly.

A sellout crowd of 40,394 included a strong turnout by Red Sox fans.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: 3B Rafael Devers (strained left hamstring) will join the team on Tuesday, a day after completing his rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket. … Manager Alex Cora said LHP David Price (bruised left wrist) feels good and believes he could start against the Braves on Wednesday. But the Red Sox will avoid having Price swing a bat. Price instead may start in Friday’s opening game of a home series against Houston. Cora said he had not decided on Wednesday’s starter.

INF Brandon Phillips, who had a successful Atlanta homecoming with the Braves in 2017, when he hit .291, will return again on Tuesday when he will be recalled from Pawtucket by the Red Sox. Phillips attended Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia, in the metro Atlanta area.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (15-7, 4.27) is 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts against Atlanta. He has a 20-8 record in 39 career interleague game.

Braves: LHP Sean Newcomb (11-7, 3.85) will try to reverse his downturn after posting an 8.48 ERA in his last four starts. He allowed six runs in four innings in a loss to the Rays in his last start.